If Clippers go far, thank Paul's, Griffin's big brothers

Blake Griffin, left, of the Los Angeles Clippers and teammate Chris Paul prepare to play defense against the Charlotte Bobcats during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on Feb. 11 in Charlotte, N.C.STREETER LECKA, GETTY IMAGES

Basketball history: Was a McDonald's All American in high school and played two seasons at Oklahoma University. In 2009, following his sophomore year, Griffin was named Naismith College Player of the Year. He was selected by the Clippers (first overall) in the 2009 NBA draft. Griffin suffered a stress fracture in his left knee before the 2009-10 season and didn't play in the regular season. He did play in 2010-'11 and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year. He has been voted to the NBA All-Star Game in both years he's been eligible. Griffin finished the regular season averaging 20.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Family: Single, Griffin lives in Manhattan Beach.

CHRIS PAUL:

Born: May 6, 1985, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Basketball history: Was a McDonald's All-American in high school and played two seasons at Wake Forest University. In 2005, Paul was drafted in the first round (fourth pick overall) by the New Orleans Hornets. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2005-06 season and went on to make five NBA All-Star games with the Hornets. On Dec. 14, Paul was traded to the Clippers. This year, he played in his sixth All-Star Game, finishing the regular season averaging 19.8 points, 9.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game. He led the league with 2.5 steals per game.

In Winston-Salem, N.C., a backyard basketball court served as a battleground for a boy and his younger brother. Halfway across the country, in Oklahoma City, two different brothers fought for every inch on a slanted driveway with a stenciled-on free-throw lane.

After years of fighting, scratching, crying and even some biting, greatness emerged.

On these household courts, C.J. Paul made Chris Paul, and Taylor Griffin made Blake Griffin.

"Had my brother not gone before me," Chris Paul said. "I wouldn't be where I am."

Both C.J. Paul and Taylor Griffin were very good basketball players, and both set examples and provided competition that turned their little brothers into two of the biggest stars in the NBA.

"Whether he knew it or not, I was watching," Blake Griffin said. "I was taking notes."

The lessons and the battles, directly and indirectly, have helped the Clippers get back into the playoffs for the first time since 2006. And while Blake and Chris star on the court, C.J. and Taylor can take satisfaction knowing they played a critical part in their brothers' successes.

THE DAILY WAR

Chris Paul stops to think for a second when asked about specific fights with his brother C.J., but the All-Star point guard can't recall. Even the details about a time where he thought he might have pushed C.J. down the stairs are fuzzy.

Inside the Clippers' locker room, Blake Griffin struggles with the same memories.

"There were so many," he said. "It was every day, multiple times a day."

On the court, the fights would usually go like this: Blake and Taylor would play one-on-one, and Taylor would start to win – like an older brother should. Blake's frustration would build and build, and then just before the game would end, Blake would act out. Rather than lose, he'd do the only thing a little brother could do – pick a fight.

"I'd throw the ball at him or something. Maybe, I'd hit him," Blake said. "One time, I broke his glasses. I just got so mad, I punched him in the face."

These acts didn't come without consequences, though. Sometimes, Blake and Taylor's mother, Gail, would separate the boys – one in the front yard, the other in the back. Sometimes, though, the boys would settle it.

"One time he punched me in the chest so hard, I went down and lost all my air," Blake said. "The 8-year-old version of me thought I was going to die, that it was over."

Blake Griffin, left, of the Los Angeles Clippers and teammate Chris Paul prepare to play defense against the Charlotte Bobcats during their game at Time Warner Cable Arena on Feb. 11 in Charlotte, N.C. STREETER LECKA, GETTY IMAGES
Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers dribbles the ball down the court with teammate Blake Griffin running behind him during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena on Feb. 20 in Oakland. EZRA SHAW, GETTY IMAGES
Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. RONALD MARTINEZ, GETTY IMAGES
Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers dunks during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game. RONALD MARTINEZ, GETTY IMAGES
New Clippers point guard Chris Paul looks at his name on a jersey next to Neil Olshey, Vice President of Basketball Operations, during an introductory press conference. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Lakers' Andrew Goudelock, left, tries to defend the Clippers' Chris Paul during their game at Staples Center. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Taylor Griffin, left, and Blake Griffin, right, of the Oklahoma Sooners walk down court against the Purdue Boilermakers during the championship game of the preseason NIT tournament on Nov. 28, 2008, at Madison Square Garden in New York. NICK LAHAM, GETTY IMAGES
Blake Griffin, foreground, of the Oklahoma Sooners, looks to a catch a loose ball as his brother and teammate Taylor Griffin looks on during the NCAA Tournament on March 19, 2009. JAMIE SQUIRE, GETTY IMAGES
Oklahoma's Taylor Griffin, left, Blake Griffin, center, and Tony Crocker, right, celebrate from the bench area en route to winning an NCAA Tournament game on March 19, 2009. JAMIE SQUIRE, GETTY IMAGES
Oklahoma's Taylor Griffin, left, talks with brother Blake Griffin while playing in the NCAA Tournament on March 29, 2009. JOE MURPHY, GETTY IMAGES
The Clippers' Blake Griffin, right, greets his brother, the Phoenix Suns' Taylor Griffin, just before the start of an NBA summer league basketball game at Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas on July 19, 2009. LAURA RAUCH, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
C.J. Paul, left of USC Upstate, fouls his brother, Chris Paul, right, of Wake Forest, during a game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Coliseum on Nov. 4, 2004. Wake Forest won the game, 103-57. MEGAN MORR, WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
Wake Forest's Chris Paul, right, drives to the basket against West Virginia's J.D. Collins, left, during the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005. MEGAN MORR, WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
Wake Forest's Chris Paul, left, drives to the basket against West Virginia's Frank Young, right, during the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005. MEGAN MORR, WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
C.J. Paul, right, of USC Upstate, goes to the basket against Wake Forest's Taron Downey, left, during their game on Nov. 4, 2004. MEGAN MORR, WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
Mt. Tabor's Ronnie Guerrero, left, guards West Forsyth's C.J. Paul in the second half in 1999. CHRIS ENGLISH, WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
Spencer Classic Tournament MVP Chris Paul, left, of West Forsyth, drives against North Forsyth's Chris Carter during North Forsyth's victory in 2001. TED RICHARDSON, WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
This family portrait of the Paul family includes C.J. (from left), Robin, Charles and Chris. In this 2008 photo, it sits on the mantel in the living room of the new home of Charles and Robin Paul in Lewisville, N.C. BRUCE CHAPMAN, WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
Clippers guard Chris Paul, left, drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins on April 5. RICH PEDRONCELLI, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Clippers guard Chris Paul, center, drives between the Denver Nuggets' Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on April 18. JACK DEMPSEY, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Clippers' Blake Griffin shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the first half on April 19. MATT YORK, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Memphis Grizzlies forward Dante Cunningham, left, and Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin go after a rebound during the first half of their NBA basketball game on March 24 in Los Angeles. MARK J. TERRILL, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin dunks as guard Chris Paul watches during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 24 in Los Angeles. The Clippers won, 101-85. MARK J. TERRILL, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, right, looks down at Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who was guarding him. MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Clippers power forward Blake Griffin, right, sits on the floor after a play as point guard Chris Paul helps him up during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 7 in Los Angeles. The Clippers won, 92-86. MARK J. TERRILL, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Clippers guard Chris Paul, left, and forward Blake Griffin celebrate a brief lead in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs on Feb. 18 in Los Angeles. The Spurs won, 103-100, in overtime. GUS RUELAS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket against Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder. KEVORK DJANSEZIAN, GETTY IMAGES
Clippers guard Chris Paul, center, shoots over New Orleans Hornets players for a three-point basket. GUS RUELAS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Clippers guard Chris Paul, left, and forward Blake Griffin talk during a timeout in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Hornets on March 26 in Los Angeles. GUS RUELAS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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